Financial Crime Investigation and Asset Recovery Training Course

Financial Crime Investigation and Asset Recovery Training Course

Introduction

Financial crime remains a global threat to economic stability, corporate governance, and national security. Financial Crime Investigation and Asset Recovery Training Course is designed to equip professionals with cutting-edge investigative techniques, legal frameworks, and forensic tools to detect, investigate, and recover illicit assets. With the rise in money laundering, cyber fraud, embezzlement, and cross-border corruption, the demand for highly skilled forensic investigators and compliance professionals is growing exponentially.

This dynamic course integrates real-world case studies, interactive exercises, and expert-led instruction to ensure a practical understanding of anti-money laundering (AML) strategies, asset tracing, and criminal financial intelligence analysis. Participants will gain actionable insights into international cooperation, financial forensics, digital evidence handling, and the use of blockchain analytics in asset recovery.

Course Objectives

1. Understand key types of financial crime, including fraud, money laundering, and terrorist financing.
2. Apply forensic accounting techniques to uncover hidden assets and illicit transactions.
3. Analyze AML compliance frameworks and global best practices.
4. Use digital forensics to detect financial fraud and cyber-enabled crimes.
5. Master asset recovery strategies, including civil and criminal confiscation.
6. Navigate international cooperation mechanisms and mutual legal assistance.
7. Build effective financial intelligence reports for law enforcement.
8. Conduct risk-based KYC and CDD procedures.
9. Identify red flags and typologies in trade-based money laundering.
10. Integrate blockchain analytics tools in tracing crypto-assets.
11. Execute cross-border investigations and asset seizure operations.
12. Understand the legal standards of evidence admissibility and chain of custody.
13. Develop an actionable financial crime prevention strategy for organizations.

Target Audience

1. Financial Crime Investigators
2. Compliance & Risk Officers
3. Law Enforcement Personnel
4. Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Professionals
5. Legal Practitioners & Prosecutors
6. Forensic Auditors & Accountants
7. Intelligence Analysts
8. Regulators & Policy Makers

Course Duration: 10 days

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Financial Crime

• Overview of financial crime types
• Key players and organizational roles
• Legal and regulatory definitions
• Trends in global financial crimes
• The cost of financial crime to economies
• Case Study: The Wirecard scandal

Module 2: Money Laundering & Terrorism Financing

• AML concepts and stages
• FATF recommendations and compliance
• Techniques in structuring and layering
• Indicators and red flags
• Reporting suspicious transactions
• Case Study: HSBC and AML compliance failures

Module 3: Forensic Accounting & Financial Auditing

• Basics of forensic accounting
• Audit trails and transaction testing
• Red flag indicators in financial statements
• Investigating embezzlement schemes
• Working with audit software
• Case Study: Enron’s accounting fraud

Module 4: Asset Tracing Techniques

• Introduction to asset tracing
• Legal tools for tracing assets
• Offshore and shell entity structures
• Tools for visualizing financial flows
• Asset freeze and restraint orders
• Case Study: Panama Papers investigation

Module 5: Digital Forensics in Financial Crime

• Identifying digital evidence
• Tools for extracting and analyzing data
• Email and file system investigations
• Mobile device forensics
• Ensuring chain of custody
• Case Study: FBI investigation of Silk Road

Module 6: Cryptocurrency & Blockchain Forensics

• Blockchain transaction analysis
• Crypto wallet tracing tools
• Regulatory approaches to crypto
• De-anonymization techniques
• Crypto asset seizure procedures
• Case Study: Tracking Bitcoin in the Colonial Pipeline hack

Module 7: Trade-Based Money Laundering

• Overview of TBML schemes
• Over/under invoicing and shipping fraud
• Dual-use goods and sanctions evasion
• Role of customs and port authorities
• Detection and prevention tools
• Case Study: Venezuela PDVSA TBML scheme

Module 8: KYC, CDD & Risk Profiling

• Identity verification techniques
• Enhanced due diligence protocols
• Risk-based approach to compliance
• Ongoing monitoring strategies
• Beneficial ownership verification
• Case Study: Danske Bank’s customer due diligence failure

Module 9: Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR)

• SAR essentials and format
• Indicators triggering SARs
• Reporting thresholds
• Internal reporting channels
• Regulator and FIU communication
• Case Study: FinCEN Files investigation

Module 10: Legal Framework & Prosecution

• National vs. international laws
• Evidentiary standards for financial crimes
• Mutual legal assistance treaties (MLATs)
• Role of prosecution in asset recovery
• Criminal vs. civil asset forfeiture
• Case Study: UK Bribery Act enforcement

Module 11: Intelligence Gathering & Analysis

• Sources of financial intelligence
• Open-source intelligence (OSINT)
• Data analysis and visualization tools
• Suspicious transaction monitoring
• Collaboration with FIUs
• Case Study: Egmont Group coordination in global fraud case

Module 12: Cross-Border Investigations

• International cooperation challenges
• Extradition and jurisdictional issues
• MLATs and international warrants
• Coordinating with INTERPOL and FATF
• Evidence collection in foreign jurisdictions
• Case Study: Operation Lava Jato (Car Wash) in Brazil

Module 13: Internal Controls & Corporate Governance

• Creating an anti-fraud culture
• Whistleblower protection policies
• Role of internal audit
• Third-party due diligence
• Board oversight and governance
• Case Study: Siemens corporate bribery scandal

Module 14: Financial Crime Prevention Strategy

• Elements of a prevention framework
• Conducting risk assessments
• Staff training and capacity building
• Response planning and recovery
• Technology and automation
• Case Study: Mastercard’s fraud risk management model

Module 15: Final Capstone – Simulation Exercise

• Real-time financial investigation simulation
• Asset tracing and seizure strategy
• Digital forensic report writing
• Group case analysis
• Final team presentation to panel
• Case Study: Multi-agency response to cross-border financial fraud

Training Methodology

• Instructor-led live workshops
• Hands-on simulation exercises
• Case study analysis and role-playing
• Peer-reviewed group discussions
• Pre/post-course knowledge assessments
• Access to forensic tools and AML software

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: info@datastatresearch.org or call +254724527104 

Certification

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

 We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs.

Key Notes

a. The participant must be conversant with English.

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days.

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training.

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course.

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to DATASTAT CONSULTANCY LTD account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you.